PRESIDENT Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the replacement of condemned school buildings to provide Filipino students with a safe learning environment.
Marcos issued the order to Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon following an inspection that revealed that students of Liwan West Elementary School in Rizal, Kalinga, are holding classes in a dilapidated building.
Dizon said that the structure, constructed in the 1980s, had been condemned but remains in use due to lack of facilities.
“The order forms part of the administration’s push to provide Filipino students with safe, comfortable and quality learning environments,” Dizon said.
Dizon noted that during the inspection, he observed cracked concrete floors, deteriorating ceilings and other structural defects that pose risks to students and teachers.
“That was the President’s directive — to go around, assess the situation and find solutions,” he added.
He said that learners and school personnel have been forced to use makeshift comfort rooms.
“We must ensure that our students have proper places to learn. Let’s give our children the dignity they deserve,” he said.
In a related development, the Department of Education (DepEd) said on Tuesday it has partnered with the Brother of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) to push transparency in school infrastructure projects.
Under the memorandum of understanding, the BCBP would serve as an independent third-party observer for DepEd’s Public-Private Partnership for Schools Infrastructure Project.
“Transparency and accountability are essential in ensuring that every program we implement delivers meaningful results for our learners. This partnership strengthens our commitment to good governance and reinforces public confidence in our education initiatives,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.
The DepEd said that under the agreement, the BCBP will provide an outsider’s view on key stages in implementing projects, including development, pre-procurement and monitoring, consistent with existing laws, policies and confidentiality safeguards.
